Director of Project Development Construction

Director of Project Development | Tampa, FL What if your next role put you at the center of every major deal — the one person operations, preconstruction, and the executive team all turn to first? Southern Search is conducting a confidential search on behalf of a well‑established industrial construction firm known for delivering large‑scale projects across manufacturing, logistics, cold storage, ecommerce, and data infrastructure nationwide. Our client is looking for a Director of Project Development to lead market expansion and win the high‑impact opportunities that shape the company's next chapter. The Opportunity This is a growth‑strategy role, not a traditional sales seat. You'll be the connective tissue between clients, operations, and executive leadership — building multi‑level relationships with decision‑makers, shaping pursuit strategy, and carrying deals from first conversation through successful project delivery. Our client wants someone who can translate a developer's early‑stage vision into a fundable, buildable plan, and who thrives on managing several high‑stakes pursuits at once. You'll have real influence here: a direct line to leadership, a voice in the company's strategic plan, and ownership over how the firm shows up in a competitive market. What You'll Do Build and maintain strong, multi‑level relationships with prospective and existing clients, engaging decision‑makers across every level of a target account Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and networking functions to build market presence Identify, qualify, and pursue high‑value opportunities within target industrial sectors Manage a full sales pipeline — from early pursuit through preconstruction and into production Lead proposal strategy, guide pursuit efforts, and support contract negotiations Bring market intelligence and competitive insight into every pursuit Contribute directly to the company's strategic growth plan Partner with internal teams to ensure a seamless handoff from sales into operations, and stay engaged to make sure client expectations are met through execution What You'll Bring Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or a related field 10+ years of experience in commercial construction project management, preconstruction, or business development A track record of winning large industrial construction projects — distribution, cold storage, manufacturing, or data centers Solid grounding in design‑build delivery and technical project management The ability to turn conceptual ideas into actionable, executable plans Experience juggling multiple client pursuits simultaneously without losing momentum on any of them Strong executive presence and sharp negotiation and client‑facing communication skills Preferred: direct business development experience in commercial construction, and proficiency in Bluebeam, MS Project, and advanced Excel This role offers a competitive base salary plus a performance‑based incentive structure, and comes with a comprehensive benefits package including paid time off and holidays, an employee ownership stake in the company's long‑term success, and the kind of executive‑level visibility that few Director‑level roles offer. #J-18808-Ljbffr Southern Search